Quicksilver
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Stats
- Real name: Pietro Maximoff
- Other aliases: None known
- Identity: Publicly known
- Occupation: (current) Adventurer, (former) Terrorist, officer of the Inhumans militia, United States government operative
- Legal status: Former citizen of Transia, naturalized citizen of the United States, citizen (by marriage) of Attilan
- First appearance: X-MEN (first series) #4
- Height: 6 ft.
- Weight: 175 lbs.
- Eyes: Silver
- Hair: White
Summary
Quicksilver (Pietro Django Maximoff) is character that appears in the Marvel Universe. He has been both a superhero and a supervillain, and associated with the X-Men, Avengers, Inhumans and X-Factor. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist/co-writer Jack Kirby, Quicksilver first appears in X-Men v1. #4 (March 1964). He is the mutant son of the mutant supervillain Magneto, the twin brother of the Scarlet Witch (Wanda Maximoff), and the half-brother of Polaris (Lorna Dane).
Publication history
In 1964, Quicksilver first appears with his sister, the Scarlet Witch, as a villain in the pages of Uncanny X-Men v1. #4 (1964). Shortly after, both he and his sister reform and join the Avengers in Avengers v1. #16 (1965). Quicksilver becomes a semi-regular member of the team and appears in the title across four decades.
In 1991, Quicksilver briefly joins a reorganized version of the team X-Factor. X-Factor #71 - 94
In 1997, Quicksilver was featured in his own on-going series, which ran for 13 issues before being cancelled.
In 2005, Quicksilver featured in a limited series Son of M Son of M #1 - 6
Character Biography
Birth
Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch's mother - Magda - takes sanctuary at Mount Wundagore in Transia, the home of the High Evolutionary, after seeing her husband Magnus use his magnetic powers for the first time. Once there, she gives birth to the twins but dies soon after. As Wundagore was no place for human infants, the High Evolutionary places them in the care of the gypsy Django Maximoff, who raises the twins as his own children. Recounted in Vision and the Scarlet Witch #1 - 12 (1985 - 1986)
Once Pietro and Wanda reached adulthood, they discovered that they are mutants. Pietro discovers he possesses superhuman speed, while Wanda learns that she can control probability. The pair later display their powers in public, and are attacked by a superstitious mob. They are saved by their father - now the supervillain Magneto - although neither Magneto nor his children are aware of their connection. Magneto then recruits the pair for the first incarnation of his Brotherhood of Evil Mutants. The Brotherhood battles the X-Men on several occasions, although the twins become reluctant members and only remain because of their obligation to Magneto. When Magneto and his lackey the Toad are abducted by the cosmic entity the Stranger, the Brotherhood dissolves and the twins declare their debt to Magneto to have been paid. Uncanny X-Men vol. 1, #11
Soon after this Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch are recruited by the hero Iron Man to join the team the Avengers. Together with leader Captain America and former villain Hawkeye, the four become the second generation of Avengers, and are later dubbed as "Cap's Kooky Quartet". Avengers vol. 1, #16 During one mission Quicksilver is wounded by the robot Sentinels, Avengers vol. 1, #102 and found by Crystal, a member of the Inhumans. Fantastic Four vol. 1, #118 Crystal nurses Pietro back to health, and the pair are eventually married. Fantastic Four vol. 1 #150
It is during this time that Wanda becomes romantically involved with their Avengers teammate, the android Vision. Although Pietro initially disapproves, he eventually gives his blessing to their marriage. Giant-Size Avengers #4 (1975) The twins later meet Robert Frank, also known as World War II hero the Whizzer who was present at Wundagore with his wife at the time of their birth.
Robert Frank briefly joins the Avengers, believing Pietro and Wanda to be his children. The Whizzer joins unofficially as of Giant-Size Avengers #1 (1974) This is later disproved when Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch are abducted by Django Maximoff and taken to Wundagore, where after being released they learn the truth from Bova, the midwife who delivered them. Avengers vol. 1, #185 - 187
Darker days
Quicksilver and Crystal eventually have a daughter, Luna. Fantastic Four vol. 1, #240 It is at this time that Magneto discovers his relationship to Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch and chooses to tell them the truth. Quicksilver is repulsed and tells Magneto that he had his chance to be a father years ago Vision and the Scarlet Witch #6 (1986) Unfortunately Quicksilver and Crystal's marriage is strained when Crystal has an affair Quicksilver discovers this in Vision and the Scarlet Witch #10 (1986) and again later by the actions of Maximus the Mad - the brother of Inhuman king Black Bolt - who uses technology to push Quicksilver into insanity and evil behavior.
First seen in "corrupted" mode in West Coast Avengers Annual #1 (1986) Although later cured, X-Factor Annual #2 (1987), Quicksilver is still angry with Crystal and joins the U.S. government-sponsored superhero team X-Factor. X-Factor #71 During this period of estrangement, Crystal almost has an affair with the Avenger the Black Knight. Crystal rejoins the team and meets the Black Knight in Avengers vol. 1, #343
Quicksilver and Crystal are finally reunited when the Avengers, X-Factor and X-Men team up to stop a group of mutant terrorists who have kidnapped their daughter Luna and are responsible for a civil war on the island nation of Genosha.
After dealing with the threat, Quicksilver learns of Crystal's relationship with the Black Knight and leaves, also resigning from X-Factor. Bloodties -"Avengers vol. 1 #368; X-Men #26; West Coast Avengers #101; Uncanny X-Men vol. 1, #307 and Avengers vol. 1, #369 (1993) Quicksilver later takes Luna and joins the High Evolutionary, assisting him and his Knights of Wundagore in fighting off the villains Exodus and Man Beast. During the course of this war, Quicksilver uses the experimental Isotope E to augment his powers and allow him to move at greater supersonic speeds. Soon after this a future version of Pietro calling himself "Nestor" appears to him and reveals that his powers are not speed but rather temporal based. Quicksilver #12
House of M
Template:Main The Scarlet Witch suffers a mental breakdown over the loss of her children and starts to warp reality in order to recreate them, resulting in random attacks on the Avengers. The Avengers and Doctor Strange place her in a coma, and then turn her over to Magneto. Magneto, however, is unable to help her and several members of the Avengers and X-Men suggest killing the Scarlet Witch. A panicking Quicksilver convinces the Scarlet Witch to correct her mistakes by using her powers to turn the world into a world of peace. Wanda then warps reality into the House of M - a world where mutants are in a majority and humans are in a minority, with Magneto established as absolute ruler.
Several of the heroes eventually regain their memories, and attack Magneto who regains his own memory and realizes that Quicksilver is to blame for this disaster. Magneto then kills Quicksilver by crushing him with a Sentinel. The Scarlet Witch, however, revives her brother, and tells Magneto that he has chosen the mutants over his own children. Wanda then says "No more mutants" and changes the world back into its original form, with the result being that 90% of the mutant population is now powerless - including Quicksilver. House of M #1 - 8 (2005 - 2006)
Son of M
Template:Main Quicksilver becomes depressed, and is soon confronted by an angry Spider-Man, who has memories of the altered world in which he was married to deceased love Gwen Stacy and had a child. Quicksilver decides to jump off a building, seriously injuring himself. Crystal arrives and teleports him to the Inhumans' lunar base for medical attention, believing he has become suicidal at the loss of his powers. After treatment by an Inhuman healer, Quicksilver asks Black Bolt for permission to undergo Terrigenesis and morph into an Inhuman, being unable to live life as a normal human being. Quicksilver's request, however, is denied as he is of human blood, and Terrigenesis is reserved only for those of pure Inhuman stock to decrease the chance of a detrimental mutation.
Quicksilver ignores the ruling and breaks into the sacred Terrigen Caves to expose himself to the Terrigen Mist. There appears to be no effect until Pietro is confronted by an older version of himself, who explains the nature of his new "time-jumping" powers, and reveals the plan to take the Terrigen Crystals back to Earth and restore the mutant population. Quicksilver manages to obtain a canister of Terrigen Crystals and with Luna and the Inhumans' pet dog Lockjaw travels to Genosha. Quicksilver then exposes surviving mutants to the mist, which restores their abilities but at dangerous levels.
The consequences prove to be disastrous - several mutants die as their powers mutate beyond all control; Luna becomes addicted to the Terrigen Mist; Magneto is beaten senseless in front of Luna by an enraged Quicksilver and the canister is eventually confiscated by the US military. A desperate Black Bolt attempts to stop this and by uttering the word "war" and unleashing his ultrasonic scream signals the start of war between the Inhumans and the US Government. Quicksilver escapes and exposes himself to even greater levels of Terrigen Mist, which has the unexpected side effect of allowing Pietro to grow the Terrigen Crystals from his actual body and restore mutant abilities at will. Quicksilver now has two goals - "curing" mutants and preventing a great disaster which he glimpses on a trip into the future. Son of M #1 - 6 (2005 - 2006) During the events of Civil War Pietro manages a store in "Mutant Town". Civil War #1 - 7 (2006 - 2007)
Silent War
Template:Main After an attack on America by four Inhumans, Black Bolt seeks Quicksilver and the stolen Terrigen crystals. When Black Bolt finally confronts Quicksilver and asks him to give him the crystals, Quicksilver responds by taking his shirt off and revealing his chest which has Terrigen crystal shards jutting out from it. After seeing this Crystal tells him their marriage is annulled under Inhuman law. Silent War #1 - 2 (2007).
X-Cell and Beyond
Quicksilver, acting with the help of Rictor, uses the crystals in his body to restore the powers of depowered mutants by touching them. The effect proves to be disastrous for Elijah Cross and other members of the group X-Cell, and as a result Rictor then destroys the crystals embedded in Quicksilver's body. X-Factor #20 (2007)
Quicksilver recently rescued his nemesis Layla Miller from drowning, with the intent of murdering her himself. Layla manages to escape by taking advantage of Quicksilver's growing insanity and his slight hesitation before killing her.X-Factor #23 (2007)
Powers and abilities
Quicksilver was originally capable of running at the speed of sound (761 miles per hour), but exposure to the High Evolutionary's Isotope E made it possible for him to run at supersonic speeds of up to Mach 5 (3,801 miles per hour). After losing his powers, Quicksilver regained meta-human abilities courtesy of the Terrigen Mists.
Quicksilver can now vibrate his atoms so quickly that the molecular speed he generates displaces him out of mainstream time and space and a "jump" into the future is possible.Son of M #3 Quicksilver could initially jump from an hour to up to twelve days into the future and remain for several minutes or even several hours before tiring and being recalled to his present time. Quicksilver can also return at will at any time. When Quicksilver returns he arrives back at almost the exact moment he left, but at the place that he occupied when he was in the future. Quicksilver is also able to bring inorganic objects back from the future. This ability, however, seems to have affected his physical health, as each time Quicksilver meets up with a future self, they look increasingly haggard. Quicksilver has also discovered how to jump only mere seconds ahead in time, and create an indefinite number of "temporal dupes" that can be controlled with a certain amount of coordination.
After weeks of exposure to the Terrigen Mists, Quicksilver took some Terrigen Crystal shards and forced them into his chest, thus getting the ability to induce Terrengenesis in other people by touching them Silent War #3 (2007). He's been using this new power to restore the abilities of the mutants who'd become regular humans after the House of M events.. It is unknown as to whether the effect is permanent, but the results are apparently unpredictable, even fatal in the cases of Elijah Cross and Unus the Untouchable. Quicksilver has claimed that the chaotic results are due to a lack of worthiness on the mutants' behalf, which has yet to be proven. Son of M #6 (2006) The crystals are subsequently forced from his body by the mutant Rictor, X-Factor vol. 3, #20 leaving Quicksilver with only the ability to time travel.
Other versions
1602
In Marvel 1602, Quicksilver appears as Petros, the assistant (and secretly, son) of the High Inquisitor of the Spanish Catholic Church, Enrique (the 1602 version of Magneto). Marvel 1602 #1 - 8 (2003)
Age of Apocalypse
In the Age of Apocalypse universe, in which Professor Xavier is dead and Magneto leads the X-Men, Pietro is a founding and influential member of the team. He leads his squad of X-Men, second only to Magneto in leadership. He also has romantic ties with Storm.
In the 10th anniversary special, Quicksilver and Gambit die in battle.
Marvel Zombies
In the Earth-2149 universe, Quicksilver becomes infected after being bitten by Mystique, who takes on the form of his sister. This results in the rapid spread of the zombie virus, as Quicksilver is able to infect hundreds in a short amount of time. Two of his more notable victims are the Silver Samurai and Sunfire. Marvel Zombies vs. The Army of Darkness #1 - 4 (2004 - 2005)
Mutant X
An alternate timeline in which Quicksilver is a member of a team of X-Men led by Magneto. Mutant X #1 - 32 (Oct.98 - Jun 01)
Ultimate Quicksilver
In the Ultimate Marvel Universe, Quicksilver was a member of Magneto's Brotherhood who, together with his sister, the Scarlet Witch, goes on to join the Ultimates. This version of Quicksilver has undergone continuous emotional abuse by Magneto which culminates in Quicksilver abandoning him and joining the Ultimates. Quicksilver then leaves the Ultimates to find his sister's killer. Ultimates 3 #1 (2007) The Ultimate version of Quicksilver is also faster than the Earth-616 version and states that as a teenager he was already capable of reaching speeds of Mach 10. Ultimates 2 #12 (2006)
In other media
Television
- Quicksilver guest-stars in 4 episodes of the X-Men Animated Series. He is voiced by Paul Haddad.
- Quicksilver appears in the animated television series X-Men: Evolution Quicksilver is voiced by Richard Ian Cox.
- Quicksilver will appear as the leader of the Brotherhood in Wolverine and the X-Men.
Film
- In X2: X-Men United, the name "Maximoff" appears on a computer screen in a list of mutant names.
Video games
- Quicksilver has a brief cameo appearance in the video game X-Men Legends II: Rise of Apocalypse. He is essential to Apocalypse's plan.
- Quicksilver appears in Data East's 1991 arcade game, Captain America and the Avengers as a supporting character.
Toys
- Hasbro and Toy Biz released Quicksilver action figures, while Bowen Studios released two busts of the character.
Other characters by the same name
Quality Comics published a super-speedster named Quicksilver in National Comics, during the Golden Age of comic books; when he was revived by DC Comics in the pages of The Flash, he was renamed Max Mercury to avoid trademark confusion with Pietro (similar to DC's use of Shazam! as the title for the comic starring Captain Marvel).
